The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' commission on colleges has placed USF on "warning" status, one step away from the probation sanction that can lead to a total loss of SACS' seal of approval.

Gradebook has learned that SACS officials are concerned with the campus' compliance with a handful of standards including "General Education Core Competencies" and student achievement.

Read more on Gradebook later today, and get the full story in tomorrow's Times.

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.